Hummer H1
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The Hummer is a tough vehicle to miss. The first one of these SUVs, the Hummer H1, arrived in 1992 as an incredibly cool and capable vehicle. The H1 was based on the Humvee, and the H1 actually lasted until 2006. It first became available for civilians in 1992, however, making it a key part of the decade. There were three common variations of the Hummer H1, including a wagon body, a four-door hardtop pickup, and a soft top similar to a convertible. Arnold Schwarzenegger quickly built up a small collection of these models, making headlines.
The Hummer H1 was 101 inches wide, about 3 feet wider than compact cars. It had the weight to match this figure, more than 7,000 pounds, which makes it twice as heavy as two midsize cars. Almost all H1s used a General Motors 6.2-liter V8 or 6.5-liter V8, offered as either a diesel or a turbodiesel. For several years, the H1 could include a 5.7-liter gas V8, but it didn’t last long due to the vehicle’s weight. Every Hummer used an automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. There was also an onboard tire-inflation system that let you air down the tires to climb over rocks and then air them back up to go back on the road.
The H1 is one of the coolest cars from the 1990s that you don’t want as a daily driver. It does great on rough terrain, but its vast size makes it tough to maneuver and park. The weight also means that even with such a large and powerful engine, it takes more than 16 seconds to reach 60 mph. The cabin is also very lacking in features, instead having comically small seats and much room taken up by driveline components. If you are looking at various model years, the 1996 models and later are the most similar, as the 6.5-liter engine took over and a turbocharged version was available.
